Dual-Entry+Notes

=Dual-Entry Notes (or "How to Take Great Notes in Three Easy Steps")=

[ Overview ]
Dual-entry notes are a great way to capture both what a text says and your own reactions to it. They're also easy to set up, and -- dare I say it -- fun. (...Okay, maybe only if you're an English teacher. But they are pretty easy to do.)

[ Directions ]
That's it! Once you've finished the reading, you'll automatically have a reference guide to the important parts of what you read and why you thought they were important. You can use this to help you study or gather your thoughts before writing a paper (among many other uses).
 * 1) On a full notebook page, create a two-column chart (AKA a T-chart). (If you write large or just want more room to work, you could use two facing notebook pages. Make the left page your left column and right page your right column.)
 * 2) Label the left column "Quote/Paraphrase/Summary" and the right column "Reactions/Reflections/Questions." (Alternatively, you may label your columns "It says..." and "I say...") You can also use Mr. Smith's template if you so choose (available as a [[file:Dual Entry Notes.doc|Word document]] or [[file:Dual Entry Notes.pdf|PDF]]).
 * 3) As you read, pause when you come across a passage you find interesting, important, or otherwise (literally) noteworthy.
 * Write the quotation (or a paraphrase of it, or -- if you're working with a larger section like an entire paragraph -- a summary) in the left column. Include the paragraph or page number where this item came from.
 * Write your thoughts about that quotation (or paraphrase, or summary) in the right hand column. Be detailed and thorough, but don't necessarily worry about proper conventions and mechanics. Feel free to doodle or use symbols.

[ Example ]
Below is an example of dual-entry notes in action. These are from Mr. Smith's reading of a book called //Make Just One Change: Teach Students to Ask Their Own Questions//.